Integrated remote control and storage housing

ABSTRACT

An integrated remote control and storage housing is herein described. The housing is for controlling and storing a remote control toy flying object such as a helicopter. The housing comprises a body, the body having controls on an exterior face. The controls are for at least controlling the directional motion of a toy flying object. Additionally, the body includes an interior compartment being for stowing the toy flying object when not in use, and a power supply providing power for the remote control and optionally for charging a miniature remote controlled toy flying object. The housing optionally permits a first toy flying object to charge while operating a second toy flying object.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/018,175, filed Dec. 31, 2007, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present disclosure concerns an improved remote control housing.

2. General Background

The disclosure concerns a toy flying object, such as a toy helicopter or toy plane generally. In particular, but not exclusively, it is related to a remote-controlled model helicopter or a toy plane.

SUMMARY

There is an integrated remote control and storage housing. The housing is for controlling and storing a remote control toy flying object such as a toy helicopter. The housing comprises a body, the body having controls on an exterior face. The controls are for at least controlling the directional motion of a toy flying object. Additionally, the body includes an interior compartment being for stowing the toy flying object when not in use, and a power supply providing power for the remote control and optionally for charging a miniature remote controlled toy flying object.

DRAWINGS

The features and objects of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of an embodiment of the toy flying object and remote control in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a front view of an embodiment of a housing in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B is a front view of an embodiment of a housing in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a housing in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A system that includes at least one remote control miniature toy flying object and a remote control for controlling the toy flying object, stowing and optionally charging the toy flying object inside a housing of the remote control. The toy flying object is miniature in size and is about the size of a credit card and weighs approximately 7 grams. The housing of the remote control provides a safe and secure area for storage and transportation of this fragile device.

FIG. 1 shows a system 100 including a remote controlled toy helicopter 120 and an exemplary remote control housing 600 showing a communication relationship between a remote control and a remote control toy helicopter. In other examples, there can be a plane 220 or another different flying object 320 such as a UFO.

FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B describe a three-in-one transmitter system that includes controlling a toy helicopter 122, charging the toy helicopter 122 and providing storage for the toy helicopter 122. The toy helicopter 122 is provided with a receiver, so that it can be controlled from a distance by means of housing 600. The housing 600 has a transmitter for communicating with a receiver of the helicopter 122 and the receiver is provided on board the helicopter 122.

Different wireless remote communication protocols can be used to communicate between the helicopter 120 and the remote control 600. In one example for instance an infrared (IR) data transmission is employed by the remote control housing 600 to communicate with the helicopter 122. Remote controls use infrared light-emitting diodes (IREDs) to emit infrared radiation. The IREDs point to different directions so as to achieve wide beam for better signal coverage. The beam is modulated, i.e. switched on and off, to encode the data. A receiver on board the helicopter 122 may use a silicon photodiode to convert the infrared radiation to an electric current and responds to a rapidly pulsing signal created by the transmitter inside the housing 600, and filters out slowly changing infrared radiation from ambient light.

There is a storage compartment integrated with the remote control housing 600 storing a remote control toy helicopter 122. Shown in FIGS. 2-3, the housing 600 includes a body. The body has an exterior flat face with a set of controls 630 on the face and an interior compartment 610 to the body. Controls 630 are for at least controlling the directional motion of a toy helicopter 122 and additionally for controlling a toy helicopter's velocity. The body's exterior face additionally includes lights 640, switches 650 and buttons 660. The lights 640 are for indicating whether the housing 600 is in an on or off state and for indicating, when a helicopter 122 is connected to a charging wire 622, whether the helicopter is in a charging state.

One of the lights 640 indicates an on/off state and is illuminated when in the on state. The other one of the lights 640 is illuminated when the helicopter 122 is connected to the wire 622 and charging and is not illuminated when charging is complete or when the helicopter 122 is disconnected. The switches 650 include an on/off switch and/or a channel switch. The channel switch is for permitting more than one remote control housing 600 and toy helicopter 122 to operate in close proximity. Close proximity is as close as operating and/or flying in the same room, for example, or within inches of each other. The buttons 660 are for adjusting a toy helicopter's 122 trim.

The remote control housing 600 is substantially rectangular box shaped. The controls 630 of the housing 600 are located on an upper portion of the housing 600 and the interior compartment 610, for stowing a remote controlled helicopter 122, is underneath the controls 630 on a lower portion of the housing 600. Additionally, a second compartment 680 for housing batteries is on a bottom surface in an upper portion substantially behind the controls 630, as shown in FIG. 2B.

The controls 630 are non-joystick in design. The controls 630, for example, are thumb pads with a thin or slim profile and are substantially flat for easily sliding the housing 600 into a coat pocket. The controls are operable by a substantially movable sliding action of the control thumb pad. The movement of the thumb pad is substantially parallel and relatively aligned with the exterior face of the body. The controls 630 permitting a slidable movement in control guide tracks 690. The tracks permit movement of the thumb pads in a plane substantially parallel to the exterior face of the housing 600. The thumb pad controls may be spring loaded in the guide tracks 690, where a spring resists movement of the thumb pad away from a zero position that corresponds to zero helicopter 122 velocity.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the remote control housing 600 showing the depth of the storage interior compartment 610 with the cover 620 removed. The housing 600 is for storing and transporting a miniature toy helicopter 122 when the toy helicopter 122 is in a stowed position. The housing 600 and toy helicopter 122 system is substantially small enough to carry and fit in a standard sized coat or pant pocket.

The interior compartment 610 is for stowing a miniature toy helicopter 122 that is about the size of a credit card, when the helicopter is not in use. A power supply is for providing power to the remote control housing 600 and optionally for charging the helicopter 122 via a wire 622. The housing 600 optionally permits a first toy helicopter 122 to charge while operating a second toy helicopter 122. The power supply includes batteries, but may include any other conventional source of power.

The housing 600 has a second compartment 680 for housing the batteries. The second compartment 680 is located on the upper portion of the housing and is accessible from a bottom surface of the housing 600. The second compartment 680 is located substantially behind the controls 630.

The interior 610 is for stowing and optionally charging the helicopter 122. The power source inside the housing 600 is for connection to helicopter 122 via a wire 622. The wire 622 having an attachment piece or a head 124 that is for mating with a charging dock 128 on a side of the helicopter 122. The wire 622 is for charging the helicopter 122 when the attachment piece or head 124 is mated with the charging dock 128.

The interior compartment 610 of the housing 600 is accessible through a cover 620. As shown in FIG. 2B, the cover 620 is slidably attached to the housing, permitting access to the interior 610 by sliding the cover to an open position via tracks 670. Alternatively, the cover 620 is hingedly attached.

A toy remote controlled flying object system may comprise two remote controlled toy flying object and a remote control housing 600. The housing 600 having a power source for powering the housing 600 and optionally for charging the two toy flying objects. The housing 600 includes an interior compartment 610. The interior compartment 610 being for stowing and optionally charging one of the two flying objects. The system permits one of the two flying objects to optionally charge while the other one of the two flying objects is operating. The interior 610 of the housing 600 is accessible through a cover 620. As shown in FIG. 2B, the cover 620 is slidably attached to the housing 600 and permits access to the interior compartment 610 by sliding the cover to an open position via tracks 670. Alternatively, the cover 620 is hingedly attached.

There is an integrated remote control and storage housing 600 for controlling and storing a remote control toy helicopter 122. The housing 600 comprises a body. The body has controls on an exterior face and an interior compartment 610. The controls are for at least controlling the directional motion of a toy helicopter 122 and the interior 610 is for stowing the toy helicopter 122 when not in use. The interior 610 of the remote control housing 600 is accessible through a cover 620. The cover 620 is slidably attached to the housing and permits access to the interior 610 by sliding the cover to an open position via tracks 670.

There is a toy remote controlled flying object system; the system comprises two remote controlled toy flying object and a remote control. The remote control has a power source that is for powering the remote control and optionally for charging the two toy flying objects. There is an interior that is for stowing and optionally charging one of the two flying objects. One of the two flying objects can be optionally charging while another one of the two flying objects is operating. The interior compartment of the remote control is accessible through a cover. The cover is slidably attached to the housing for permitting access to the interior by sliding the interior cover to an open position via tracks. Alternatively, the interior cover is hingedly attached.

There is an integrated remote control and storage housing for controlling and storing a remote control toy flying object. The housing comprises a substantially rectangular box shaped body. The body has controls on an exterior face. The controls are for at least controlling the directional motion of a toy flying object. The controls may additionally control a toy flying object's velocity. There is an interior compartment of the body that is for stowing the toy flying object when the flying object is not in use. The controls are located on an upper portion of a face of the housing and the cover is located on a lower portion of the face of the housing. Additionally, there is a second compartment for batteries.

There is an integrated remote control and storage housing for controlling and storing a remote control toy flying object. The housing comprises a body that has controls on an exterior face. The controls are for at least controlling the directional motion of a toy flying object. There is a power supply providing power for the remote control and optionally for charging a toy flying object. The housing is for optionally permitting the charging of a first toy flying object while operating a second toy flying object. The power supply includes batteries as is for connection to the flying object when the flying object is in the stowed position. The recharging can be effected while the flying object is in place in the interior compartment of the remote or alternatively when the flying object is removed from the interior compartment.

There is an integrated remote control and storage housing for controlling and storing a remote control toy flying object. The housing comprises a body. The body has controls on an exterior face and the face is substantially flat and operable by a substantially movable sliding action of a control pad. The control pad is substantially parallel and relatively aligned with the face of the body.

While the device and method have been described in terms of what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure need not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. The present disclosure includes any and all embodiments of the following claims. 

1. An integrated remote control and storage housing for controlling and storing a remote control toy flying object, the housing comprising a substantially rectangular box shaped body, the body having controls on an exterior face, the controls being for at least controlling the directional motion of a toy flying object, and an interior compartment for the body being for stowing the toy flying object when not in use.
 2. The housing of claim 1, further comprising a second compartment for batteries.
 3. The housing of claim 1, wherein the interior compartment of the housing is accessible through a cover.
 4. The housing of claim 3, wherein the cover is slidably movable permitting access to the interior compartment by sliding the cover to an open position.
 5. The housing of claim 4, wherein the controls are located on an upper portion of a face of the housing and the cover is located on a lower portion of the face of the housing.
 6. The housing of claim 1, wherein the controls additionally control a toy flying object's velocity.
 7. An integrated remote control and storage housing for controlling and storing a remote control toy flying object, the housing comprising a body, the body having controls on an exterior face, the controls being for at least controlling the directional motion of a toy flying object, an interior compartment to the body being for stowing the toy flying object when not in use, and a power supply providing power for the remote control and optionally for charging a flying object.
 8. The housing of claim 7, wherein the housing being for optionally permitting the charging of a first toy flying object while operating a second toy flying object.
 9. The housing of claim 7, wherein the power supply includes batteries, the power supply being for connection to the flying object when the flying object is in the stowed position.
 10. The housing of claim 7, wherein the interior compartment of the housing being accessible through a cover.
 11. The housing of claim 10, wherein the cover is slidably movable permitting access to the interior compartment by sliding the cover to an open position.
 12. The housing of claim 7, wherein the controls additionally control a toy flying object's velocity.
 13. The housing of claim 11, wherein the controls are located on an upper portion of a face of the housing and the cover is located on a lower portion of the face of the housing.
 14. An integrated remote control and storage housing for controlling and storing a remote control toy flying object, the housing comprising a body, the body having controls on an exterior face that are substantially flat and operable by a substantially movable sliding action of a control pad being substantially parallel and relatively aligned with the face of the body, the controls being for at least controlling the directional motion of a toy flying object, and an interior compartment to the body being for stowing the toy flying object when not in use.
 15. The housing of claim 14, wherein the interior compartment of the housing being accessible through a cover.
 16. The housing of claim 15, wherein the cover is slidably movable permitting access to the interior compartment by sliding the cover to an open position.
 17. The housing of claim 16, wherein the controls are located on an upper portion of a face of the housing and the cover is located on a lower portion of the face of the housing.
 18. The housing of claim 14, further comprising a second compartment for batteries.
 19. An integrated remote control and storage housing for controlling and storing a remote control toy flying object, the housing comprising a substantially rectangular box shaped body, the body having controls on an exterior face, the controls being for at least controlling the directional motion of a toy flying object, and an interior compartment for the body being for stowing the toy flying object when not in use.
 20. The housing of claim 19, wherein the interior compartment of the housing is accessible through a cover, and wherein the cover is slidably movable permitting access to the interior compartment by sliding the cover to an open position 